Spring frog



' I J. E. CONLEY SPRING FROG Filed Dec- 31. 1921 I Jndenzar" Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

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JOHNE. CONLEY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

SPRING FROG.

Application filed December 31, 1921. Serial No. 526,151.

of Tennessee, have invented a certain new they go into the side or less used track, and

automatically returning to its initial position. The invention has other objects which are more specifically pointed out in the following description.

Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one form of device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a view showing a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is a view showing a further modified construction;

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings I have illus strated in Fig. 1 one type of frog embodying the invention. It is of course evident that other types than this may be used. In the construction shown the frog 1 is pro vided with a spring rail 2, mo-vably connected with the frog at 3. This spring rail is provided with an inclined or beveled part 4: at one end. The spring rail when in its normal position fills the space at the side of the frog point in which the flange of the wheel travels. When this space is left open a large part of the tread of the wheel is left unsupported. By means of this spring rail substantially all of the tread of the wheel 5 is supported as shown in Fig. 2 when the wheel is passing through the frog on the main line. When the wheel is passing through the frog to the switch or less used line, the flange is on the other side of the frog point 6 as shown in Fig. 3 and engages the beveled portion 4 so as to move the spring rail 2 aside into the space 7 as shown in Fig.

3.. This spring rail is provided with some means for automatically returning it to its normal position. As hereln shown th s s doneby means of a retractingspring 8, the

8 rin rail bein connected therewith in an I desired manner so that the retracting spring returns it to its normal position after the wheel passes out of en'gagement therewith. In the construction shown the spring rail is provided with a projection 9 which engages a part 10 attached to the spring 8. This part 10 is shown as a bolt which passes through the spring. The spring engages the fixed face 11 so that when the spring rail is moved to one side, the spring 1 is compressed, and when the pressure of the wheel is released the spring automatically returns the spring railto its initial position.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a construction where the frog is of an integral construction.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the frog where it is in sections 12 and 13, which are held together by the fastening devices or bolts 14:. It is of course evident that the frog may be made up in any desired manner.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a construction where there are two spring rails 2 and 2 These rails fill the space on both sides of the frog point 6 so that substantially all of the tread of the wheel will be supported both when the wheels are passing along the main track, or to the side or less used track. These spring rails are similar to the ones shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I claim:

. 1. A frog comprising a frog point, guides to properly direct the wheels when passing through said frog, a rail normally in the space at one side of the frog point. and adapted to engage the periphery of the wheel when the flange thereof is on one side of the frog point, said movable rail adapted to be moved to one side by the flange of the wheel when it is on the other side of the frog point.

2. A frog comprising a frog point, a rail normally in the space at one side of the frog point and adapted to engage the periphery of the wheel when the flange thereof is on one side of the frog point, said movable rail adapted to be moved to one side by the.

flange of the wheel when it is on the other side of the frog point, and means for returning said movable rail to its initial posiof said frog point, said rail engaged by the flange of the Wheel When the flange is on the other side of the frog point so as to move'it to one side to permit a free passage of said flange.

4. A frog comprising a frog point, a rail movably connected With the frog and located in the space at one side of the frog point and adapted to engage the periphery of the Wheel When the flange of the Wheel is on one side of said frog point, said rail engaged by the flange of the Wheel When the flange is on the other side of the frog point so as to move it to one side to permit a free passage of said flange, and a retracting device connected to said rail to move it back to its initial position.

5. A frog comprising a frog point, a rail movably connected With said frog point and located in the space at one side thereof and adapted to engage the periphery of the Wheel When the flange of the Wheel is on one side of said frog point, said rail having a beveled end which is engaged by the flange of the Wheel when it is on the other side of the frog point, said flange moving the rail to one side to permit the free passage of the flange, and a retracting spring connected With said movable rail for moving it back to its initial position When the pressure of the flange is removed therefrom.

6. A frog comprising Wheel receiving parts, a spring rail movably connected With said frog and adapted to engage the tread of the wheel When it is passing through the frog one Way and adapted to be moved aside by the flange of the Wheel When it is passing through the frog in another Way, said frog provided With a receiving space into Which said spring rail is received when moved aside by the flange of the Wheel.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 14th day of December,

JOHN E. CONLEY. 

